Game-board.



W. S. WOODRUFF.

GAME BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED mum, 1910.

Patented 061;. 4, 1910.

[NVENTOR W1 TNESSES UTTED @ATE PN @FFTQ WILLARD SCOVILLE WOODRUFF, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAME-BOARD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLARD S. 001)- RUFF, of 1659 East Twelfth street, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Boards, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to game apparatus and comprises the board or plate herein shown and described on which counters may be moved from space to space about a circular pathway to a predetermined point and then by a radical pathway to the center and thence to a home point, the pathway being divided into spaces each bearing a number of spots corresponding to the number of spots on the face of a die, and the invention consists in the novel arrangement of the game apparatus as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved game board, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a die, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a counter.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the game board which may be constructed of any suitable material adapted to have marked or printed upon it the spaces and designating marks necessary.

2 is a die having its faces bearing the usual numbers of spots from 1 to 6 inclusive.

3 is a counter adapted to be moved from space to space on the game board.

The game board 1 is provided with a single row or series of spaces 4 arranged in a circle.

5 is a circular space at the center of the circle formed by the row or series of spaces 4. From the center space 5 radial double rows 6 of spaces extend to the circle formed by the spaces 4 the opposite double rows being in line crossing the other opposite double rows at right angles.

In the spaces between double rows 6 within the circle formed by the spaces 4 are circles 7 and outside the circle formed by the spaces 4 are similar circles 8.

The spaces 4 each bear a designating mark consisting of one, two, three, four, five or six spots corresponding to the designating spots on the faces of the die 2. The numbers on successive spaces are different except that the two spaces at the outer end of each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 6, 1910.

l l I a l Patented Oct. 4, 1910. Serial No. 536,726.

double row 6 bear the same number of spots. Between the outer ends of the double rows 6 one of the spaces 4 is without spots corresponding to the spots on a face of the .die but is marked by a disk 9.

Each of the circles 8 is marked by suitable spots arranged as on a face of a die to designate it as No. 1, 2, 3, or 4 and each of the circles 7 is similarly designated.

The space 4 next to the outer end of the double row 6 which is shown horizontal in Fig. l and above the circle 8 which is designated by one spot is also designated by one spot and the spaces 4 4 and 4 next to the outer end of each of the double rows 6 is designated by the same number of spots by which the circle 8 nearest to it is designated.

These spaces 4, 4, 4, and 4 are the starting points as hereinafter explained.

The double rows 6 each have seven double spaces from their inner ends to the circle formed by the spaces 4 and of these, counting from the center space 5 outward, the first, third, fifth and sixth double spaces are each divided in two and designated by spots corresponding to the spots on a face of the die 2. On the first double space both spaces are designated by the same number of spots, while the spaces of each of the other double spaces are difierently designated. The inner end spaces of the several double rows 6 are designated respectively by one, two, three and four spots. The second, fourth and seventh double spaces, counting from the center outward of each double row 6 are each designated by a disk 9.

The game may be played by two, three or four players. Each has one counter 3 or, if preferred, each may have two, three or four counters 3. The players sit around the game board each having his counters 3 on one of the spaces 8. Each player then shakes the die 2 in turn using a suitable dice box for this purpose. When a player throws a number corresponding to the number on the circle 8 on which his counters are placed he is entitled to place one of his counters 3 on the space 4, 4 4, or 4 corresponding to his circle 8'. 011 this players next turn to throw if he throws the number corresponding to that of his circle 8 he may place a second counter 3 on the start-ing point, if he throws any other number he may advance the counters from the starting point to the left, that is in the direction of the arrow 10 to a space designated by the number thrown provided that if such designated space is not beyond a disk 9. If such designated space is beyond a disk 9, or safety point, the counter must be placed on the disk 9 or safety point. On the next turn to throw the counter may be advanced as before and so on until the counter has been moved completely around the circle formed by the spaces a from which point it is to be moved inward toward the center 5 to successive spaces as indicated by the number thrown. But in moving inward on its double row 6 the counter cannot be shifted from one row to the other except when on a disk 9 or safety point, and when on the double row 6 the counter 3 cannot be moved over a numbered space unless the number of that space is thrown. Any number thrown will, however, permit a counter to be moved from a numbered space on a double row to a disk 9 if next to it.

After a counter 3 has been moved to one of the spaces at the inner end of a double row 6 it is necessary to throw a one in order to permit it to be moved to the center and to move it from the center to the circle 7, or home corresponding to the circle 8 from which it started it is necessary to throw the number by which that particular circle 7 is designated.

The counters of a player may be moved past those of another player but if a player throws a number permitting him to move a counter to a numbered space occupied by the counter of another player he may take up such counter and such counter must be again started on one of the starting points. If one of the numbered spaces is occupied by two counters of the same player and another player throws a number permitting him to move one of his counters either to or past the space so occupied both of the two counters may be taken up to be started over.

A counter which is on a disk 9 or safety point cannot be taken up.

Vhenever a player throws a double num ber he is entitled to another throw.

It will be noted that the circle formed by the spaces & forms a pathway over which all of the counters of all of the players are to be moved during which movement they are each liable, except when on a safety point, to be overtaken and taken up. After the counters of a particular player complete the circle they are moved inward toward the center each on an individual double path way so that they cannot here be taken up. hen a counter reaches the center 5 and until by the necessary throw it is permitted to be moved to its home 7 it is liable to be taken up and sent back to start over.

The movement about the circle formed by the spaces e may be rapid or slow according to the numbers thrown, but in moving inward on the double row 6 progress is likely to be slow as each move, to a numbered space calls for a particular number to be thrown.

It will of course be understood that the counters 3 for each player will be separately colored.

The player who first moves his counter or counters to his home wins the game.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A game board having a circumferential pathway composed of a series of spaces designated by numbers corresponding to the numbered faces of a die and a limited number of spaces designated as safety spaces, and radially arranged double pathways leading to the center each composed of numbered spaces and safety spaces.

2. A game board having a circumferential pathway composed of a series of spaces designated by numbers corresponding to the numbered faces of a die and a limited number of spaces designated as safety spaces, and radially arranged double pathways leading to the center each composed of numbered spaces and safety spaces, and separate home spaces arranged between the double pathways.

This specification signed and witnessed this 29th day of Dec. A. D, 1909.

WILLARD SCOVILLE WOODRUFF.

In presence of \VILLIAM D. Joxns, CHAS. S. CLAGETT. 

